Printed Ephemera — 1906-11-08
A Demonstration will be held in favour of Votes for Women
Handbill announcing a demonstration in favour of 'Votes for Women.' Organised by the Kensal Rise branch of the Women's Social and Political Union, the demonstration meeting was held at Harvist Road Council School on Thursday 8 November 1906 with guest speakers including Christabel Pankhurst, Dora Montefiore and Charlotte Despard .
The Kensal Rise branch of the WSPU was formed in 1906 by the Misses Auld and Louie Cullen who became Honorary Secretary of the branch. Louie Cullen also subsequently helped establish the Kensington and Hammersmith branches.
Louie Cullen is described in the 2nd July 1909 Votes for Women edition as having worked for her living since she was 14 years and the wife of a 'working man'. 'It is through his influence that she is in the movement'.
Louie joined the WSPU in 1906 inspired by Dora Montefiore's refusal to pay tax. Her first act of militancy was the same year on 23rd October when she was ejected from the House of Commons for waving a banner. In a letter to the Suffragette Fellowship in 1932 Louie noted the 'rough handling' she received when being thrown out Parliament.
Louie was arrested three times for Suffragette militancy - the first time for taking part in the Pantechnicon raid on the House of Commons in February 1908 remembered by her as 'the most exciting ride I ever remember', for which she received a sentence of 6 weeks in the 2nd division. In June 1908 Louie was a speaker on platform 3 at the Great meeting in Hyde Park chaired by Annie Kenney.
Louie's second arrest was in Norwich where she organised a demonstration against Winston Churchill at which, she noted in her letter to the Suffragette Fellowship local Norwich papers 'said there had been no such crowds since the Diamond Jubilee'. Louie along with other Suffragettes were arrested and detained without charge until Churchill was safely out of the City. In June 1909 Louie was amongst the 110 women arrested during the deputation to Prime Minister Asquith on 29th June 1909. Louie claims in her letter to the Fellowship in 1932 to have attended almost every 'meeting where Suffragettes made protests at Liberal Meetings in London and the near suburbs and often had some 'very rough treatment' 'I always had the help & support of my husband & many times he was helping in the protest in our district'. She also took part in all demonstrations - peaceful & militant in London & the suburbs until December 1911 when illness caused her to leave England for New South Wales, Australia.
Louie notes in her letter to the Fellowship 'I have always regretted that, through ill-health my activities had to cease just when 'real' militancy started ie. window smashing & hunger striking'.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- NN23740
- Object name:
- A Demonstration will be held in favour of Votes for Women
- Artist/Maker:
- Women's Social and Political Union
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1906-11-08
- Material:
paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 185 mm, W 126 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
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